Hotline of power engineering specialists
Specialists from the branch of Rosseti Centre - Tverenergo, together with the Tver Region Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia, shut down an illegal cryptocurrency mining site in the Maksatikhinsky municipal district.
Unauthorized connections to power devices were discovered in the village of Maksatikha, on the premises of a sawmill. During the investigation, law enforcement agencies seized 68 ASIC miners, as well as equipment used to tamper with electricity meters.
Power engineers have drawn up a report regarding the unmetered consumption of electricity. The volume of unmetered consumption amounted to 865,100 kWh. The damage caused to Tverenergo exceeded RUB 4.7 million. The materials on this incident have been transferred to law enforcement agencies for further investigation and prosecution of those responsible.
In accordance with current legislation, charges for unmetered and uncontracted consumption are calculated and penalized, compensating for the cost of the stolen electricity. Therefore, paying honestly for the electricity actually consumed is much more cost-effective.
Furthermore, such illegal actions pose a real threat to the safety of citizens and the stability of the regional power grid. As a result of energy thieves’ activities, conscientious payers suffer, and funds that could have been used for development and modernization of the power grid are forced to compensate for losses caused by energy theft. Unauthorized connections to the grid cause voltage surges, damage to household appliances, and increase the risk of fires and technological failures.
“We consistently work to suppress the activities of illegal mining farms. Any unauthorized connections pose risks to residents, public facilities, and businesses, so we will continue to identify such incidents and seek to hold violators accountable, working with law enforcement agencies. Ensuring reliable power supply to consumers is the company’s absolute priority,” stressed Boris Ebzeev, General Director of Rosseti Centre, PJSC – the managing organization of Rosseti Centre and Volga region, PJSC.
If you are aware of any interference with electrical equipment, illegal connection to the power grid, or the manufacture, distribution, or use of distorting devices on meters, please report it to the energy hotline “Light line 220”: 8-800-220-0-220 (24/7, toll-free, anonymous) or by dialing short number 220 from mobile devices. An anonymous report form is also available on the company’s official website: https://mrsk-1.ru/customers/against-theft/.